Monday, April 13, 2009

Lambs, Lambs and

... more lambs! Easter Sunday began with a early morning check to the barn where I found Jorja "Ray" with her new large single ram. Healthy strong and legs that are almost as long as his Moms. He looks like Zorro with his identical eye patches. Jorja is an independent "Wild Child" who after only a few hours in her jug broke out and joined the flock with baby in tow. He's doing great!

Easter Sunday is our family holiday. My brother, sister-in-law, Mother and son Dana came for a day in the country. They were able to see two lambs and we kept an eye on Oma as she looked ready to lamb. Soon it was time to eat and visit so Oma was forgotten for a few hours. After 4:00 in the afternoon I did another barn check and Oma "Jean" had her two lambs dry and fed. One ewe and one ram lamb. This is the best picture I got with all three. The ram and his sister look the same only less white. This is the ram. It's a shame I will loose all this color as most of my sheep carry the Ag gene. This ram lamb has the light brown around his belly and legs.

All went well Sunday then this morning at the 4:30 AM barn check Bella (Portabella, her Mom is a Truffle) was out on the grass with two new lambs a ram and a ewe. So far three sets of twins and even number on ewe's and rams. One ewe lamb died and one single ram.

Altho this ewe lamb is pink from birthing fluids she is almost like the ewe lamb who died. Not gulmoget but dark brown over her back and light brown on her legs and belly. Her legs are not as light as the first lamb.

Now the best news of all! Bella is the ewe who had two blind lambs last year. Oma had one blind/sick lamb die and a healthy ewe lamb, and Hattie and Jorja had a one in four chance of having blind lambs because their father is Dugan. All have healthy happy lambs so I venture to say that the lambs sire Cider (Newton and Limerick) does not carry the gene that caused all the trouble last year.

It is so nice to walk into the barn/pen and see dry lambs isnt it??? Thats all we did this year, except for the first lambs (one was weak, ended up as Grace :), its almost like we didnt have a lambing season, no stress no late nights, no cold forays into the barn... ahhh :)Beautiful lambs! I love the spotted ones, so cute! I am going to be there May 30th, I've decided, for the Western Festival that Heidi has posted about. Maybe stay the weekend and take the car to the dealer on Monday.

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Desert Peach

About Me

I live out side Reno Nv on 20 acres with my husband 3 dogs 6 cats and my flock of Shetland Sheep. We have a Ma-Pa landscape business I'm the bookkeeper secretary and girl Friday. The best part of the job is that the office is at home. This gives me the opportunity to raise the sheep, farm the land. ;o) and fiber arts but not as much as I'd like.